Riding the Retro Metro: Wednesday Apr.12, 1978!

Redartz: Excellent; you're just in time for our latest retro road trip ! Grab a seat and hang on, we're headed back to the Spring of 1978; a heady time indeed.   The US Senate is debating returning the Panama Canal (to Panama, of course), Volkswagen has just started manufacturing cars in the US, and Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" has won big at the Academy Awards. Also, a certain trio of singing brothers are on top of the world. and they're on top of the  US Billboard Hot 100:  The Bee Gees, with  "Night Fever"

Rounding out the top five: 
2. The Bee Gees, "Stayin' Alive"
3. Eric Clapton, "Lay Down Sally"
4. Barry Manilow, "Can't Smile Without You"
5. Yvonne Elliman, "If I Can't Have You"


The brothers Gibb are responsible for three of the top five songs this week (writing and producing Yvonne Elliman's song); they seem to be giving the 1964 Beatles some competition in the area of chart domination. However, some other residents of the top 40  hold more interest for me. Among them:   Jackson Browne, "Running on Empty"- a great song proving that the singer/songwriter is alive and well in the disco era. Andy Gibb, "Love is Thicker Than Water"- yes, another Gibb brother. But this song is really sharp, a bit more soulful than some other Gibb compositions, in my opinion. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, "You're the One That I Want"- a dynamic duet from the two stars of that other popular film out now: "Grease".  Sweet, "Love is Like Oxygen"- yet another cool offering from the British glam gang; and one of the more unusual metaphors you'll hear for love...

Tops in the UK:  Brian and Michael, "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" (love that title)

Yes, there are plenty of riches on the music charts today. But this high schooler wants to know about tonight's tv; what say you? And since we have the schedule right here, let's have a look...

US Television Schedule:
 ABC:  Eight is Enough, Charlie's Angels, Starsky and Hutch

 

Being a red-blooded American teenager, I never miss "Charlie's Angels". Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson star, and of course everyone has their favorite Angel- mine is Kate. No contest. And lots of folks follow up with Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul as "Starsky and Hutch". Also featuring the two cops' favorite informant, the inimitable "Huggy Bear", and a bright red Ford Gran Torino.

Cast of "Good Times"

CBS:  Good Times, Syzsnyk, The CBS Wednesday Night Movies
Just what exactly is "Syzsnyk", anyway?

 













 


NBC:  The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, Black Sheep Squadron, Police Woman
My parents liked to catch "Grizzly Adams", and sometimes Black Sheep Squadron. When I occasionally declined to watch the Angels, I'd watch the Squadron. Robert Conrad stars as the leader of a group of WWII fighter pilots. I have a good friend who is absolutely nuts for this show...












BBC1:  The Wednesday Film: Track of Thunder, Miss Scotland 1978, The Budget, The Hong Kong Beat, Sportsnight

BBC2:  Mr. Smith Propagates Plants, Newsday, Brass Tacks, Call My Bluff, Midweek Cinema: Broadway Melody of 1940


Oh, by the way, it's Wednesday: new comic day! And since we have plenty of change (unfortunately thirty five cent comics prohibit the purchase of more than two books for a dollar, but so it  goes), lets check out the Spinner Racks:

Oh, I have to pick up a bunch of these. Starting with the two Treasury editions (that Batman collection is a gem, a couple of great Neal Adams tales just as a start). In Avengers we're continuing to see the members disappearing; that book is incredible lately. Then I'll take the first issue of DC Comics Presents: Superman teamups, starting with a race against the Flash-  a good start, and Garcia-Lopez art too. Red Sonja has a great cover, but so does that Showcase with Hawkman by Kubert. Showcase was a cool 'tryout' book in the Silver age, and I'm enjoying the 70's incarnation as well. Defenders has Spider-man; that has to be good reading. Finally, "Doorway to Nightmare" is a treat for the eyes, and those Kaluta covers grab me every time. It's nice to pick up something a little different now and then.

Well, my funds are now shot, and time is about up for today. Anyway, I need to get home and finish up some homework; don't want to mess up graduation next month with unfinished projects. So it's back on the retro and forward to our future present once again. Hope we roused a few memories, and a few smiles. Until next trip, adios!

Riding the Retro Metro: Destination January 21, 1978

Redartz:    Hello everyone; climb aboard for another excursion back to the Bronze Age! Today our trusty transport is destined for Saturday January 21, 1978. Those of us living in the US midwest don't realize it yet, but a historic blizzard is just a few days away. We would enjoy a snow break of a full week! But for today, the weather is yet clear, and your humble host (still in high school at this time) is a big follower of pop culture. Not the least of which is the Billboard pop music chart, which tells us that the top song today is:

 "Baby Come Back" by Player

Rounding out the top 5:

2.  Bee Gees- "How Deep is Your Love"
3.  Dolly Parton- "Here You Come Again"
4.  Rod Stewart- "You're in My Heart"
5.  Randy Newman- "Short People"

Not a huge fan of "Baby Come Back", but it's ok. I am more impressed by the number two song; the Bee Gees have recently dropped out of the top spot. The brothers Gibb and their record label. RSO, have been red hot lately (I may be the only kid in school who doesn't own "Saturday Night Fever"), and they aren't done yet. And I hear that in the UK, they are listening to Wings doing a song called  "Mull of Kintyre". Stateside, we have never heard of  this one...
 


As this is Saturday, we should certainly check out some of the Saturday morning cartoon offerings today. This ad shows the CBS programming. Meanwhile, ABC gives us "Super Friends" and "Scooby's All-Star Laugh-a-Lympics". NBC has "Archie and Sabrina", "Muhammad Ali", and "Thundarr the Barbarian". I still never miss "Bugs Bunny", and am enjoying "Thundarr" quite a bit. 

While watching a few cartoons and enjoying our bowl of "Lucky Charms", we take a glance at the TV guide to see what's on tonight. We see;

US Television schedule:
 ABC:  "What's Happening!", "Operation Petticoat", "The Love Boat", "Fantasy Island"
CBS:   "Bob Newhart Show", "Tony Randall Show", "The Jeffersons", "Maude", "Kojak"
NBC:  "The Bionic Woman", "NBC Saturday Night at the Movies"

BBC1: "Saturday Night at the Movies: Trapeze", "Les Dawson Show", "Starsky and Hutch"
BBC2:  "The Book Programme", "Film International- The Desert of the Tatars", "M*A*S*H"

I have to admit to watching the 'guilty pleasures' of "Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island". The latter, on the strength of Ricardo Montalban, and of course Herve Villachaize ("da plaaane, da plaaane!). Those two back-to-back are a trivia fiend's pleasure: they give a haven to every character actor, costar and veteran in show business!

Finally, let's take a look at a few of the comics on the stand today. Still 35 cents, but I think DC has the right idea with those big dollar comics...

I make a point to grab Amazing Spider-Man and Avengers (man, that book is good). Also like Showcase with Power Girl. I neglect to pick up that "Batman Family" with it's excellent cover, and soon regret my lapse. 

Alas, the 21st. Century calls. Time to bid farewell to the late 70's in all their funky splendor. I have to go get my wife to sing her version of  the "Love Boat" theme. So tune in again next time for another ride on the Retro!